Botchan

“I don't care about the grasshoppers. I care that you lied about it.”

Botchan stands his ground when the students try to prank him with grasshoppers. It made me realize how rare it is to stay stubborn about your principles.

“Kiyo was the only one who ever really understood me.”

Moving to a small town for work feels like a death sentence for his social life. He really misses his old nanny more than he lets on.

The teachers all have these weird nicknames like Red Shirt and Porcupine. It shows how we reduce people to their worst traits when we're unhappy.

“I won't be looked down upon by a noodle shop owner.”

He gets so angry about the price of tempura noodles. It's funny but also sad how a tiny loss of dignity feels like a disaster.